Cultivation approach for comparing the nutritional quality of two pepper cultivars grown under different agricultural regimes

The aim of this study was to assess the influence of the cropping system (organic or conventional) and the growth medium (soil or soilless) on the antioxidant content of peppers from Almuden and Quito cultivars. This cultivation study complements a previous farm study. For both cultivars, organic cultivation led to higher fruit lipophilic antioxidant content than conventional management but differences in the hydrophilic fraction were not observed. The effect of the growth medium on pepper composition depended on the studied cultivar. In Almuden, neither the hydrophilic nor the lipophilic fractions were affected by the growth medium, while in Quito most compounds showed higher values in soil-grown plants. Taking into account the results from the present and the previous farm study we conclude that the effect of organic vs. conventional cultivation on pepper quality can be attributed to the different nutritional regimes and other factors associated with the agricultural system. However, both aspects are not necessarily different in organic and conventional commercial crops. The effect of the growth medium (soil or soilless) on pepper quality depended on the cultivar: Almuden was not affected by the growth medium and Quito was seen to be less suitable for soilless cultivation.     

Development and Evaluation of a Film and Edible Coating Obtained from the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cajanus cajan</Emphasis> Seed Applied to Fresh Strawberry Fruit

The aim of this work was to develop and evaluate the effect of an edible coating produced with protein isolate and gum from the Cajanus cajan seed to be applied to strawberries (Fragaria spp.). The films were formulated using 1 and 2% gum, and 5 and 10% protein isolate, as well as glycerol (2%) as a plasticizer. The formulated films were evaluated in terms of water vapor permeability (WVP), opacity, color, scanning electron microscopy, and texture. Once the ideal formulation with sufficiently low WVP and opacity was selected, it was applied to the strawberries, which were evaluated in terms of mass loss, color, firmness, acidity, pH, soluble solids, anthocyanin content, vitamin C content, and acceptability degree by an untrained consumer panel. Results showed that film made from 5% of protein isolate and 1% of gum had the lowest WVP of all treatments. Applied to strawberries, the coating resulted in a reduction of the total soluble solid content, the consumption of citric acid, and the mass loss of coated with respect to uncoated strawberries after 10 days of storage at 5 °C, without causing sensorial changes.     

Interactions of dietary fibre and omega-3-rich oil with protein in surimi gels developed with salt substitute

Most Western populations have insufficient intake of fibre and ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), while sodium intake greatly exceeds the recommended maximum. Surimi seafood is not currently fortified with these nutraceutical ingredients. Alaska pollock surimi seafood was developed with salt substitute and fortified with either 6 g/100 g of fibre or 10 g/100 g of ω-3 oil (flax:algae:menhaden, 8:1:1) or fibre + ω-3 oil (6 g/100 g of fibre + 10 g/100 g of ω-3 oil). The objective was to determine effects of the dietary fortification on physicochemical properties of surimi. Fortification with either dietary fibre or ω-3 oil alone or in combination enhanced (P < 0.05) rheological and textural characteristics. The combined fortification had a synergistic effect on rheological properties. This indicates greater gelation of surimi in the presence of fibre + ω-3 oil, suggesting their interaction with surimi myofibrillar proteins. Fibre results in protein dehydration increasing protein concentration; while oil is immobilised by protein filling void spaces in the gel matrix. Differential scanning calorimetry showed that fibre and ω-3 oil did not interfere with normal denaturation of surimi proteins. Colour properties were only slightly affected (P < 0.05). Fortification of surimi with fibre and ω-3 oil resulted in a quality product that could be useful in developing surimi products with nutritional benefits.     

Semicontinuous separation of dimethyl ether (DME) produced from biomass

A ternary semicontinuous system for the separation of bio‐dimethyl ether from methanol and water is presented. The performance of eight potential control configurations, including the application of temperature inferential control, is evaluated. Dynamic simulations of the semicontinuous system and associated control scheme demonstrate that the temperature inferential control configuration is effective in achieving the separation objectives while remaining within operational limits. The semicontinuous system using the inferential temperature control scheme is simulated and shown to be economically preferable to the traditional continuous process for a range of production rates. © 2013 Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering     

Silica Nanoparticles Inhibit Responses to ATP in Human Airway Epithelial 16HBE Cells

Because of their low cost and easy production, silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) are widely used in multiple manufacturing applications as anti-caking, densifying and hydrophobic agents. However, this has increased the exposure levels of the general population and has raised concerns about the toxicity of this nanomaterial. SiNPs affect the function of the airway epithelium, but the biochemical pathways targeted by these particles remain largely unknown. Here we investigated the effects of SiNPs on the responses of 16HBE14o- cultured human bronchial epithelial (16HBE) cells to the damage-associated molecular pattern ATP, using fluorometric measurements of intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration. Upon stimulation with extracellular ATP, these cells displayed a concentration-dependent increase in intracellular Ca²⁺, which was mediated by release from intracellular stores. SiNPs inhibited the Ca²⁺ responses to ATP within minutes of application and at low micromolar concentrations, which are significantly faster and more potent than those previously reported for the induction of cellular toxicity and pro-inflammatory responses. SiNPs-induced inhibition is independent from the increase in intracellular Ca²⁺ they produce, is largely irreversible and occurs via a non-competitive mechanism. These findings suggest that SiNPs reduce the ability of airway epithelial cells to mount ATP-dependent protective responses.     

Single-Cell Proteomics: The Critical Role of Nanotechnology

In single-cell analysis, biological variability can be attributed to individual cells, their specific state, and the ability to respond to external stimuli, which are determined by protein abundance and their relative alterations. Mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics (e.g., SCoPE-MS and SCoPE2) can be used as a non-targeted method to detect molecules across hundreds of individual cells. To achieve high-throughput investigation, novel approaches in Single-Cell Proteomics (SCP) are needed to identify and quantify proteins as accurately as possible. Controlling sample preparation prior to LC-MS analysis is critical, as it influences sensitivity, robustness, and reproducibility. Several nanotechnological approaches have been developed for the removal of cellular debris, salts, and detergents, and to facilitate systematic sample processing at the nano- and microfluidic scale. In addition, nanotechnology has enabled high-throughput proteomics analysis, which have required the improvement of software tools, such as DART-ID or DO-MS, which are also fundamental for addressing key biological questions. Single-cell proteomics has many applications in nanomedicine and biomedical research, including advanced cancer immunotherapies or biomarker characterization, among others; and novel methods allow the quantification of more than a thousand proteins while analyzing hundreds of single cells.     

Improving the Management of Endometrial Cancer Patients through the Use of Liquid Biopsy Analyses: A Case Report

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the 4th most common neoplasm of the female genital tract, with 15–20% of patients being of high risk of recurrence which leads to a significant decrease in patient survival. Current therapeutic options for patients with EC are poor, being the combined therapy of carboplatin and paclitaxel the standard of care, with limited efficacy. Therefore, new therapeutic options and better monitoring tools are needed to improve the management of the disease. In the current case report, we showcase the value of liquid biopsy analyses in a microsatellite instability EC patient with initially good prognosis that however underwent rapid progression disease within 6 months post-surgery; through the study of plasma cfDNA/ctDNA dynamics to assess the tumour evolution during treatment, as well as the study of the uterine aspirate as a valuable sample that captures the intra-tumour heterogeneity that allows a comprehensive genomic profiling of the disease to identify potential therapeutic options. Furthermore, preclinical models were generated at the time of tumour progression to assess the efficacy of the identified targeted therapies.     

A multi-institutional, multinational study of programming concepts using card sort data

Abstract: This paper presents a case study of the use of a repeated single‐criterion card sort with an unusually large, diverse participant group. The study, whose goal was to elicit novice programmers' knowledge of programming concepts, involved over 20 researchers from four continents and 276 participants drawn from 20 different institutions. In this paper we present the design of the study and the unexpected result that there were few discernible systematic differences in the population. The study was one of the activities of the National Science Foundation funded Bootstrapping Research in Computer Science Education project (2003).